The 31-year-old enjoyed a superb first season in the top flight with the Canaries, where he won the player of the year award for the third successive season.

Holt impressed so much there had been suggestions of an England call-up, but he was not named in Roy Hodgson's squad for Euro 2012 and has today dropped a bombshell at Carrow Road.

The striker has become a fans' favourite at the club since joining from Shrewsbury for a reported fee of £400,000 in July 2009.

Holt helped the East Anglian side to the npower League One title in his first season at the club, netting 30 goals in 44 appearances.

He continued to score regularly in the npower Championship and helped Paul Lambert's side secure back-to-back to promotions, earning them a place in the Barclays Premier League after a six-year absence.

Holt's performance saw him rewarded with a new three-year deal at Carrow Road ahead of the 2011/12 season, where he shone and hit 17 goals.

However, the talisman has now handed in a transfer request and could be set for a move to pastures new.

The news follows speculation linking manager Paul Lambert with a move away from the club.

The Scot is considered one of the hottest managerial talents in the country and has been linked with the vacant managerial positions at Aston Villa and Liverpool.

Holt is due to play on Tuesday in team-mate Adam Drury's testimonial against Celtic at Carrow Road.

"Holty's still playing, he said he still wants to play," Drury told BBC Radio Norfolk.

Readers' Comments

I

t's wrong to be making a joke out of Bender's name at the expense of gay people. It's the kind of childish, uncivilised thing that Football365 would deride and ridicule if it was another media outlet saying. Why is there a need for jokes like this? Does it make your writers feel like men? F365 might suggest that I 'lighten up', but it is genuinely traumatic for people who have been oppressed all their lives to be the butt of jokes, and to be told...

ou can't blame De Gea for wanting to leave, he has enough to do in front of goal as it is as well as taking on the role of Man Utd's version of Derek Acorah in trying to contact and organise a defence that isn't there.